Python and Ruby are great languages to start with but definitely not the end goal (for anyone who really wants to gain a deep understanding). They make the transition to understanding lower level languages e.g. C a lot smoother.
You start by learning how to do math on paper before being given a calculator.
Yes, they do operate further from the underlying hardware- but as a beginner, this isn’t really important. Once you’ve grasped the basics, languages like C become a lot more accessible and you can better appreciate what the higher level languages do for you.
I guess it’s personal preference at the end of the day.